Death

Death of an active member

All Plan members who are entitled to a pension also have entitlement to some form of survivor benefit for their spouse or beneficiaries when they die. This includes members who die while employed at a College as well as those who are on an approved leave of absence or disability leave. The beneficiaries of former members who left the Plan and are eligible to receive a deferred pension are also entitled to a survivor benefit.

Death of a pensioner

The normal spousal pension is 60% of the lifetime pension the pensioner was receiving at the time of death. The bridge benefit is not part of the lifetime pension for the calculation of the survivor benefit. Inflation protection increases on the lifetime pension are part of the calculation of the survivor benefit. Since 1997, married retiring members have had the option of selecting a 75% spousal pension in exchange for a lower pension for themselves. When they die, their spouse receives 75% of their lifetime pension at the date of death (this applies to the spouse at the time of retirement).

The spousal pension from the Plan is paid for the rest of the surviving spouse’s life.

Forms

Death Benefit Application
Deferred/Survivor Pension Claim

Resources for members

Survivor benefits

Pamphlets

Protecting your loved ones: Survivor benefits

Resources for pensioners

Survivor benefits

How to claim a survivor benefit

Pamphlet

When a pensioner dies